We see these two spices together at nearly every home and restaurant table. Many centuries ago these two spices were used as a form of currency in trade. Salt and pepper add much more than just a burst of flavor to food though. They have many health benefits that you may not be aware of.
Natural Salt
Salt has gotten a bit of a bad rap over the years with many reports about the dangers of too much sodium in the diet. It’s our common, refined table salt that these reports are based on though, not salt in its untouched and natural state. All of that processing and heating depletes the minerals in salt that our body could use. Those minerals are replaced with things like fluoride and aluminum, both known to be toxic to our bodies.
However, salt in its natural state, sea salt, offers calcium, magnesium, sulphate and potassium. It has been used throughout history for its medicinal benefits, as well as to enhance the flavor of food and to preserve food.
Health Benefits of Sea salt
Reduces Acidity
Sea salt has an alkalizing effect on our body and help to reduce the acidity in our cells. This can help in the long term to reduce the risk of disease.
Strengthens the immune system
Sea salt give our body a natural boost to the immune system which can help us in fighting of allergies, viruses, autoimmune disorders and flu.
Aids our digestive process
Salt helps our body create those digestive juices we need to help absorb nutrients in the intestines and aid in the prevention of acid reflux. It can also help in the prevention of any build up that can occur in the digestive tract, which can lead to things like constipation or weight gain.
Good for your skin
Used in a bath, sea salt can help to relieve skin that is dry and itchy. It can aid in the relief of more serious skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Our pores open up in a bath and this gives salt a chance to get in there and hydrate the skin tissues to promote healing. Its also a main ingredient for exfoliating scrubs.
Reduces inflammation in the respiratory system
Salt can diminish the production of mucous and phlegm in our sinuses and lungs, allowing us to breathe easier. This can be very helpful for asthma sufferers. It’s been said that sprinkling a bit of salt in a glass of water and drinking it can work just as well as using an inhaler, minus the side effects.
Healthy heart
Salt aids in lowering the cholesterol levels, blood pressure and can help bring balance back to an irregular heartbeat. It can aid in the prevention of strokes, heart attacks and atherosclerosis.
Regulates sugar levels
Salt is known for its ability to regulate and maintain our body’s sugar levels, making it an important part of your diet if you are a diabetic, or are at risk for this disease.
Stronger bones
Did you know that 27% of our bone content is made up of salt? When our body’s water and salt levels become depleted it will draw sodium from our bones, weakening them. This can lead to diseases like osteoporosis.
Prevents muscle spasms
Our muscles need potassium in order to function properly and sea salt not only offers a small amount of potassium, it also aids in absorbing potassium from other foods. This will prevent our muscles from cramping and spasming.
Aids in relaxation and sleep
Salt can aid in the preservation of serotonin and melatonin, two hormones our body needs to promote relaxation, better sleep and depression.
Natural Black Pepper
Pepper is salt’s companion where both flavoring food and benefiting our health is concerned. It’s been used in Ayurvedic remedies and was even found in a 5th century book of medicines as a remedy for treating a number of illnesses. Like salt, it is best used unrefined and in its most natural state, peppercorns, which can be ground and made a bit finer for foods.
Health Benefits of Black Pepper
Aids in digestion
Pepper can ramp up the hydrochloric acid secretion in our stomach allowing us to digest food faster and better. This helps to avoid things like diarrhea and constipation. It’s also known to promote urination and sweating, two essential ways our body removes toxins. It helps to eliminate excess water that can cause edema.
Assists weight loss
Aside from helping us to avoid a number of gastrointestinal ailments, pepper can also aid in weight loss. It’s the outer layer of the peppercorn that can help break down fat cells in the body. Pepper can also stimulate the taste buds and has been used for anorexia because it helps in regaining one’s appetite.
Expectorant properties
Pepper has long been used in Ayurvedic treatments for coughs and colds as well as relief from nasal congestion and sinusitis. This is because pepper has an expectorant property that helps in breaking down mucus and phlegm. It is also a natural irritant that stimulates the body to loosen and expel these things via coughing or sneezing.
Antibacterial properties
Black pepper has been used to help fight infections and alleviate insect bites when used topically. Adding pepper to your daily diet can help keep those arteries clean because it is similar to how fiber scrapes the walls of the arteries to clear them. This makes pepper a good addition for preventing strokes and heart attacks.
Antioxidant
Pepper’s antioxidant properties can assist in repairing any damage that has been caused by free radicals (byproducts that attack healthy cells), making it a good choice for preventing cancer, liver ailments and cardiovascular diseases. Black pepper works to neutralize those harmful compounds that are known to cause premature aging, age spots and wrinkles and even memory loss.
Promotes clear skin
As mentioned before, pepper helps us to release toxins by promoting sweating and urination. But it can also be used outside of the body, as an exfoliant to help remove dead skin cells and promote circulation. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help eliminate and prevent acne and other infections on the skin.
Bioavailability
Black pepper assists in transporting the nutrients from our food to other areas of the body. It also aids in the absorption process.
Helps beat depression
A compound in pepper, called piperine, has been known to help increase our brain’s cognitive function, as well as aiding proper functioning of the brain when added to our daily diet. This lessens feelings of depression and can boost our brain as well.
And there you have it! Salt and pepper, two companions that not only enhance our meals but can enhance our health too.
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